Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Wilmington, North Carolina (November 2026)
Wilmington, North Carolina CDL drivers earn $2,587 per week on average (median $2,037) as of November 2026. Based on 1,412 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,999. North Carolina freight moves on I-85 and I-40 through the Charlotte-to-Raleigh-Durham manufacturing corridor and I-95 north-south, with Port of Wilmington handling containerized exports and a large furniture and textiles production base.
What changed in November 2026
- average weekly pay fell by 4.6% ($2,713 → $2,587).
How Wilmington, North Carolina compares to North Carolina
| Wilmington, North Carolina | North Carolina | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,587 | $2,178 | +19% |
| Take-truck-home | 89% | 82% | +7 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 69% | 62% | +7 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 71% | 65% | +6 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 88% | 76% | +12 pt |
| Regional routes | 11% | 18% | -7 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Wilmington, North Carolina sits 19% above the North Carolina baseline.
How CDL pay breaks down in Wilmington, North Carolina
Across active CDL postings in Wilmington, North Carolina this month, pay varies meaningfully by hiring type. The breakdown below shows the average and median weekly pay for each.
| Hiring type | Avg/wk | Median/wk | Active postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Contractor (1099) | $2,267 | $2,100 | 674 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,617 | $1,600 | 403 |
| Owner Operator | $7,182 | $7,250 | 335 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
What Wilmington, North Carolina drivers actually run
11% of Wilmington, North Carolina's active CDL postings are regional and 88% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (1%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Wilmington, North Carolina postings; dedicated routes at 28%; take-truck-home at 89%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 71% and riders-allowed at 69%.
Driving CDL in North Carolina
North Carolina CDL work spans a broad mix — port-and-container out of Wilmington and Morehead City, manufacturing in the Triangle (Raleigh-Durham), distribution and textile freight around Charlotte, and tobacco / agricultural loads from the eastern half of the state. The driver-experience profile is generally favorable: moderate winters, no significant mountain work outside the western tip, and a cost of living a bit below the national average. State income tax is flat and moderate. I-85 between Greensboro and Charlotte is one of the busier Southeast freight lanes. NC is one of the better states for a new CDL driver to build experience without immediately running mountains or severe weather.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Wilmington, North Carolina
- Best owner-operator companies in Wilmington, North Carolina
- CDL driver salary in North Carolina
The methodology behind the rankings
Compensation (30%): pay percentile + sign-on bonus + guaranteed pay + settlement frequency. FMCSA safety (25%): weighted percentile across vehicle maintenance, unsafe driving, hours-of-service, driver fitness, and controlled substances. Benefits (25%): hiring-type-aware. Operational (20%): driver-application responsiveness, modulated by fleet scale. Updated November 2026.